Monday, September 28, 2015

The morning after

The clouds cleared over southeastern Wisconsin last night just in time for most of the harvest-moon, super-moon, blood-moon, fourth-blood-moon-in-the-tetrad deathstar performance.

I could see a bit of it out the upstairs window, though obscured by a tree. Never did see any red color - it really just looked as if the moon went behind a symmetrical, very, very slow moving cloud, then crept out the other side of it. Honestly, the moon setting this morning was more spectacular, bright white against a deep blue morning sky.

There is a subset of my friends who, though for the most part very rational, have been anticipating this event with an almost unholy amount of glee. Predictions of economic collapse, signs in the sky and the rise of a one world power abounded. Pretty much anything can be twisted to fit their narrative (the stock market decline weeks ago was hailed as the economic collapse they anticipated, even though "it happened earlier than they expected" - yeah, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, people).

I love my friends, and when they start on this, I mostly nod and smile and change the subject. But inside my head...

Seriously, dude?

Scripture is very, very clear that no one knows the timing of the end except God. It's not that there are hidden "codes" in the Bible that will point the super smart, holy people to the exact timing of everything, it's that the time simply has not, and will not be revealed ahead of time.

Paul wrote the following to Titus:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

Titus 2:11 - 13

Paul is clear that we are waiting for the return of Jesus. But he is equally clear on what we should be doing while we wait, and it has nothing to do with scouring Scripture and ancient writings for "proof" that the world will end on such-and-such a day, or that certain contemporary world events are sure signs of an imminent end.

What does he say we should do?

Live like you follow Christ, not the world. Work on your faith, root out any persistent sin, steep yourself in the truths about God revealed in His word. Live out your faith rather than just giving lip service.

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ginosko

...signifies "to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand", or "to understand completely". In the NT ginosko frequently indicates a realtion between the person "knowing" and the object known; in this respect, what is "known" is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship.